Question

Name the main product obtained when Ethanol is oxidised by using hot alkaline ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ solution.

Answer 1

• When Alcohols are oxidised, they produce a variety of compounds depending on the reaction conditions.
• Alcohols produce a Carboxylic acid when heated with alkaline ${\mathbf{KMnO}}_{\mathbf{4}}$ or acidified Potassium dichromate (${\mathbf{K}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{Cr}}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{O}}_{\mathbf{7}}$).
• Ethanoic acid is formed when alkaline Potassium permanganate (${\mathbf{KMnO}}_{\mathbf{4}}$) oxidises Ethanol.
  $$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{CH}}_2\mathrm{OH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2\left[\mathrm{O}\right]\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\stackrel{{\mathrm{KMnO}}_4\left(\mathrm{alk}\right),\mathrm{heat}}{\to }{\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right) \\ \mathrm{Ethanol}\mathrm{Oxidation}\mathrm{Ethanoic}\mathrm{acid} \\ (\mathrm{Acetic}\mathrm{acid}) \end{gathered}$$
• Hence, the main product obtained when Ethanol is oxidised by using the hot alkaline ${\mathrm{KMnO}}_4$ solution is Ethanoic acid.